Roberto Cingolani’s removal as CEO of Leonardo last month stunned investors after his push into next-generation military technology helped drive a sharp increase in the company’s share price. The physicist and former energy minister championed a “bullets and bytes” vision, forging alliances with Turkey’s Baykar for drones and Germany’s Rheinmetall for land vehicles. However, his strategy ruffled feathers in Italy’s defence establishment and among US officials.

The most contentious project was the Michelangelo Dome — an AI-powered air defence system unveiled in November. While Cingolani said more than 20 countries expressed interest and first deliveries to Ukraine were planned for November, Washington viewed it as a potential challenge to US systems like Patriot interceptors. US concerns were raised directly with Italy’s ambassador in Washington this year. The Baykar partnership also drew fire for binding Leonardo to a company closely linked to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Cingolani further unsettled US officials by walking away from a potential deal with data intelligence group Palantir. Alexander Alden, senior counsellor for Palantir and special adviser to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, approached Leonardo, but talks stalled because Palantir wanted to sell software while Cingolani only favoured a joint venture. Critics within Italy said he focused too much on futuristic technology while neglecting urgent capacity expansion for drones, ammunition and platforms.

Lorenzo Mariani, a Leonardo veteran and former navy officer, has taken over. Defence minister Guido Crosetto had favoured Mariani when Meloni first took power, but she initially chose Cingolani instead. “Italy needs a CEO of Leonardo who is able to work well with the Italian military and other military interlocutors in Europe,” said Alessandro Marrone of Rome’s Institute for International Affairs. Cingolani said three years was too short to execute his strategy.